Protocol of the High Level Meeting in Gali on Security Issues

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Country/entity: Georgia
Abkhazia
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Protocol of the High Level Meeting in Gali on Security Issues
Date: 12 May 2005
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Georgian Separatist Conflicts (1989 - )
The Abkhazia-Georgia Conflict (1992 - )
Much like other conflicts that sprung up in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Abkhazia conflict emerged as an ethnic conflict following heighten nationalist awareness among Abkhaz and other minorities residing in the region. In 1978, protests against the Georgianization of Abkhazia emerged from Abkhaz intellectuals. Towards the end of the 1980s, both Georgian and Abkhaz nationalists demanded independence from the Soviet Union. Tensions began following clashes at Sukhumi University between pro-Unity protestors and Abkhaz nationalists in April-July 1989. However, the conflict remained a legal conflict up until August 1992 following the 1991 elections, wherein Abkhazians felt they were under-represented. War broke out between Abkhaz separatists, supported by Russian forces and hired fighters from the North Caucus. Within Abkhazia, Abkhaz separatists were generally supported by ethnically Armenian and Russian residents. Within Georgia the conflict was exacerbated following conflict in South Ossetia from 1989 onwards in addition to political strife between the supporters of the ousted president, Zviad Gamsakurdia, and the post-coup government led by Eduard Shevardnadze.

Significant human rights abuses occurred, particularly after the capture of Sukhumi in September 1993, after which Georgian residents, which consisted of 45 per cent of the population in 1989, were faced with mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing. Russian Peacekeepers acting under the umbrella of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), were deployed on the Abkhazia-Georgia line following a ceasefire in 1994. Atrocities towards ethnic Georgian’s continued with over 1,500 deaths post-conflict. In 1998 fighting re-erupted following a flare up of fighting in South Ossetia. Again it was resolved with a ceasefire agreement. However, as of 2016 the conflict remains unresolved.

The Russio-Georgian War (South Ossetia) (1989 - )
Following heightened nationalist awareness among Ossetians and policies undertaken at the expense of ethnic minorities by the Georgian government led by President Gamsakurdia, calls for Ossetian Independence increased. After clashes broke out in Tskhinvali during a pro-Georgia protest, the conflict began to militarize. When President Gamsakurdia maintained his position after elections in 1990, which were boycotted by South Ossetia, Ossetians organised elections for their own parliament. The central Georgian government reacted by abolishing the autonomous status previously held by South Ossetia. The formation of ethnic militias and increased attacks on civilians escalated on both sides and in December 1990 a state of emergency and an economic blockade were declared. Fighting was haphazard as fighters on both sides were poorly equipped and disciplined. The Georgian National Guard was primarily formed of volunteers due to a lack of resources and as a result fighters often acted out of self-interest. Assaults on Tskhinvali by Georgian forces were repulsed on several occasions, and Georgian forces were also noted to expel Ossetian residents and destroy villages out of revenge and as a means to re-claim territory.

The Sochi agreement (1992) established a ceasefire and security corridor, as well as divided the territory between Georgian and Ossetian administration. Relations deteriorated drastically in April 2008, and following shelling of Georgian villages on August 1, the Georgian military responded in force retaking most of Tskhinvali by August 7. Russian forces intervened on behalf of Ossetian separatists and after retaking Tskihvali, opened another front in the Kordori Gorge. A ceasefire was brokered on August 12, and the Kremlin declared its recognition of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26. Russian forces have since strengthened their military presence in those regions in violation of the ceasefire.
Stage: Renewal
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Abkhazia peace process
Parties: The Georgian delegation was led by Mr. George Khaindrava.
The Abkhaz delegation was led by Mr. Sergei Shamba.
Third parties: Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ms. Heidi Tagliavini;
CPKF of CIS was represented by General-Major Sergei Chaban.
The military observers of the UN were represented by General-Najor Husein Ahmed Eisa Gobashi.
Description: Short agreement renewing the Moscow Ceasefire of 1994, and that sets up a group of three representatives from the Georgian, Abkhaz, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which will monitor the ceasefire.

Agreement document: GE_050512_ProtocolHighLevelMeetingGaliOnSecurityIssues.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
8. Both sides expressed their readiness to work for improving the human rights situation in the conflict zone through existing mechanisms, as well as refraining from belligerent propaganda and rhetoric.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
8. Both sides expressed their readiness to work for improving the human rights situation in the conflict zone through existing mechanisms, as well as refraining from belligerent propaganda and rhetoric.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Infrastructure and reconstruction
Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
10. Continue discussing the concrete project on bus communication via Enguri Bridge proposed by the UNOMIG and the CPKF CIS as a humanitarian measure;
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
9. Guarantee the security and provide the assistance to the representatives of international organizations participating in implementing the agreed projects in the conflict zone, including those financed by the European Union and carried out by the UNOMIG and UNDP.

Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
11. Georgian side expressed its readiness to collect and submit the information to the HALO TRUST about the minefields;

Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
12. Determine necessity and the date of holding the next high level meeting on the security issues;

Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
13. The sides agreed to renew patrolling when necessary in Kodori Gorge in the nearest future. Both sides accepted the proposal of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on holding the next meeting on security issues in mid-June according to the approved format.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
1. Submit to the UNOMIG and the CCPKF of the CIS until May 26 the samples of IDs of the law enforcement officials and of other armed formations in the Conflict Zone and in the Restricted-weapon Zone, and the information about the number of staff;  

Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
7. Determine the minimum distance of 650 m between the positions of law enforcement structures of both sides from the line of separation of forces and 500 m between the position of the law enforcement structures of the sides and the check points of the CPKF of the CIS;
Armed forces: Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
1. Submit to the UNOMIG and the CCPKF of the CIS until May 26 the samples of IDs of the law enforcement officials and of other armed formations in the Conflict Zone and in the Restricted-weapon Zone, and the information about the number of staff;  

Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
6. Consider the issue on reducing the number of staff at the armed formations of the sides at the next high level meeting, including the number of law enforcement officials in the Security Zone and in the Zone of Restricted Armament;
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
1. Submit to the UNOMIG and the CCPKF of the CIS until May 26 the samples of IDs of the law enforcement officials and of other armed formations in the Conflict Zone and in the Restricted-weapon Zone, and the information about the number of staff;  

Page 2, The sides agreed on the following:
6. Consider the issue on reducing the number of staff at the armed formations of the sides at the next high level meeting, including the number of law enforcement officials in the Security Zone and in the Zone of Restricted Armament;
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No signatures on document, but meeting convened and chaired by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ms. Heidi Tagliavini at the UNOMIG office in Gali.
Other international signatory: CPKF of CIS was represented by General-Major Sergei Chaban.; The military observers of the UN were represented by General-Najor Husein Ahmed Eisa Gobashi.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
2. Set up the group composed of three representatives from each side for operative monitoring on the situation in the Security Zone and submit the list to the UNOMIG and the CCPKF until May 19 of this year;

Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
3. Carry out operative and regular exchange of information and the lists of people committing offences in the conflict zone, particularly in Gali District in order to take necessary steps for their arrest and criminal prosecution;

Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
4. Submit to the UNOMIG until 26 May the proposals on arranging additional hot lines in the conflict zone;

Page 1, The sides agreed on the following:
5. Cooperate closely within the frame of Joint Group on investigating the facts in order to increase the effectiveness of its work;
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker; http://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/GE_050512_ProtocolHighLevelMeetingGaliOnSecurityIssues.pdf

Protocol of the High Level Meeting in Gali on Security Issues

Gali, 12 May 2005

On May 12, 2005 the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ms. Heidi Tagliavini convened the high level meeting on security issues at the UNOMIG office in Gali.

The Georgian delegation was led by Mr. George Khaindrava.

The Abkhaz delegation was led by Mr. Sergei Shamba.

CPKF of CIS was represented by General-Major Sergei Chaban.

The military observers of the UN were represented by General-Najor Husein Ahmed Eisa Gobashi.

The meeting was chaired by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General.

The participants approved the following agenda:

The measures to secure implementation of the Moscow Agreement on Ceasefire and separation of forces of 1994 and the obligations relating to the security in the conflict zone;

The measures to secure the common security in the conflict zone and cooperation between the sides;

Miscellaneous.

The sides agreed on the following:

Submit to the UNOMIG and the CCPKF of the CIS until May 26 the samples of IDs of the law enforcement officials and of other armed formations in the Conflict Zone and in the Restricted-weapon Zone, and the information about the number of staff;

Set up the group composed of three representatives from each side for operative monitoring on the situation in the Security Zone and submit the list to the UNOMIG and the CCPKF until May 19 of this year;

Carry out operative and regular exchange of information and the lists of people committing offences in the conflict zone, particularly in Gali District in order to take necessary steps for their arrest and criminal prosecution;

Submit to the UNOMIG until 26 May the proposals on arranging additional hot lines in the conflict zone;

Cooperate closely within the frame of Joint Group on investigating the facts in order to increase the effectiveness of its work;

6. Consider the issue on reducing the number of staff at the armed formations of the sides at the next high level meeting, including the number of law enforcement officials in the Security Zone and in the Zone of Restricted Armament;

7. Determine the minimum distance of 650 m between the positions of law enforcement structures of both sides from the line of separation of forces and 500 m between the position of the law enforcement structures of the sides and the check points of the CPKF of the CIS;

8. Both sides expressed their readiness to work for improving the human rights situation in the conflict zone through existing mechanisms, as well as refraining from belligerent propaganda and rhetoric.

9. Guarantee the security and provide the assistance to the representatives of international organizations participating in implementing the agreed projects in the conflict zone, including those financed by the European Union and carried out by the UNOMIG and UNDP.

10. Continue discussing the concrete project on bus communication via Enguri Bridge proposed by the UNOMIG and the CPKF CIS as a humanitarian measure;

11. Georgian side expressed its readiness to collect and submit the information to the HALO TRUST about the minefields;

12. Determine necessity and the date of holding the next high level meeting on the security issues;

13. The sides agreed to renew patrolling when necessary in Kodori Gorge in the nearest future.

Both sides accepted the proposal of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on holding the next meeting on security issues in mid-June according to the approved format.